Supreme Court to Mohammad Shami’s Wife: “Isn’t ₹4 Lakh Per Month Quite Handsome?” — A Legal Insight into Maintenance under Indian Law
Introduction: The Supreme Court’s Remark Sparks Debate The Supreme Court of India recently made headlines while hearing a petition filed by Hasin Jahan, the estranged wife of Indian cricketer Mohammad Shami, challenging the Calcutta High Court’s order granting her ₹4 lakh as monthly maintenance. The bench of Justices Manoj Misra and Ujjal Bhuyan, while issuing notice to Shami, observed that ₹4 lakh per month appeared to be “quite reasonable.” The remark has stirred public debate on the concept of maintenance under Indian law — how courts determine what is “reasonable,” and how such determinations balance lifestyle disparities between spouses. Background: Calcutta High Court’s Interim Maintenance Order The Calcutta High Court’s July 1 order fixed ₹1.5 lakh as monthly maintenance for Hasin Jahan and ₹2.5 lakh for the couple’s daughter, totaling ₹4 lakh. The division bench of the High Court later upheld this order on August 25, 2024. Before this, the trial court had ordered Shami ...